Dermatologist diagnoses of Chronic Non specific Balanoposthitis
Posted , 10 users are following.
hi all, i just want share with you my story and also try to get some advice from anyone who has overcome a similar situation. so 3 months ago, i had unprotected sex. 3 weeks later i started getting these horrific griping pains in the base of penis and in my gooch area. no sign at this point of any visible irritation anywhere on my penis, and i was checking virtually hourly. i actually think checking so frequently and so vigorously has probably caused what im dealing with currently. i presumed this pain was probably caused by some sort of STI, the pain began on the monday and i got tested on the friday. my test results were not due back until the monday, that weekend i was in so much pain that i was constantly adjusting my penis position to try and relieve the pain. i found some relief by having my foreskin retracted and my penis head tucked up in my shorts if that makes sense. so clearly there was some friction etc going on. the following morning, i came to notice some irritated patches around my penis head, i presumed that these mustve been from friction from the amount id been adjusting my penis etc. anyway, all test result came back clear and these included Chlamydia, Gon, syphillis, HIV, mycoplasma genataliam. i presumed the irritation would go away, unfortunately it never has and actually progressed to the point where the entire area around my meatus is constantly inflamed and i also have an inflamed patch further down on my glans. like many others, when flaccid it doesnt look too bad. but when erect you can clearly see the two main points of inflammation and the entire head looks very red and irritated. the top layer of the glans skin will often peel after masterbation where it has been so irritated. A nurse at the Sexual health clinic assured me it was nothing to worry about, gave me oral and topical thrush treatments and sent me on my way. these didnt make any difference so i headed to my GP. she examined me and gave me Betnovate RD ointment and assured me that is was just irritation and it'll go away with the help of the ointment, it never did. ive had the irritation for 11 weeks now, i paid privately to see a dermatologist on monday morning. she assured me that i dont have any more serious skin conditions/diseases, and due to the fact my foreskin is slightly irritated and no bacterial/fungal cause can be found that i have Chronic Non specific Balanoposthitis. i understand this is a blanket diagnoses and not the actual cause, she is is convinced that this will go away and has prescribed me Trimovate steroid cream to be used twice a day for a fortnight, then reduced to once a day for a fortnight and then steadily decreasing. has anyone else dealt with anything similar and actually found a resolution to their symptoms? i must mention that the skin is completely painless and itch free, the pain i was experiencing prior to the visual irritation was from my pelvic floor muscles being too tense, this pain has virtually subsided now. the skin itself has never itched or been painful, it is simply red and inflamed. most of the threads i have read, people seem to go offline and never report if they resolved their symptoms, i know many of you still deal with yours daily. any support would be greatly appreciated.
1 like, 48 replies
Steves8012 terry01090
Edited
Afternoon
Caveat, my issue may not be the same thing. Similar picture in that convinced I had an STI after one stupid error. Had numerous tests and been assured no issues but my Penis says different as I've experienced pain and soreness (Ive also recently had Epidydimitis although they say unrelated???).
I've tried the Trimovate but no joy. That and steroid ointment calm things down if flare up but haven't resolved the route cause of what's causing the issue so still searching (and trying everything/anything) to resolve.
Good luck.
terry01090 Steves8012
Posted
ah so youve actually managed to find a formula that reduced the redness when you get a flare up? most of the time does your penis now look normalish?
terry01090
Posted
the most frustrating for me is that there is literally no pain, no itching and no tenderness. the head simply has a couple of red irritated patches. the actual irritation seems to be under the skins surface and obviously when its erect all of the blood rushed to the area and makes it look far worse. hoping people on here have found ways to reduce redness.
Steves8012 terry01090
Posted
No sadly mines quite sore at times. As say may be different issues. If helps Clobavate was probably the most successful in calming it when flared up
terry01090 Steves8012
Posted
not ideal mate. the thing is i think virtually everybody's issues have different origins. some people have pain, some dont. some people have skin peeling, some dont. its so difficult to hit the nail on the head. i actually think from the amount of abandoned posts etc that most people eventually get theirs sorted. but of course a fair few people dont. im 11 weeks into this and ive tried 3 treatments.. well i started Trimovate 48 hours ago so i guess i need to persists with it for a good couple of weeks. im hopeful ill eventually find something that eradicates the redness, this is now my only symptom as the skin is not painful to the touch, or itchy etc.
Wee_Dugie terry01090
Posted
I would suggest you use the Trimovate for at least 4 or 5 months - make sure you apply it correctly so that it is fully absorbed, make sure you are applying it regular enough ...
Update here in 5 months or so if it still persists .....
terry01090 Wee_Dugie
Posted
hi Wee-Dug, i've actually been waiting for you to reply to my post. ive been using the Trimovate for 6 days, the only difference it has made is that it has dried the areas of irritation out further, therefore making the irritation more obvious. i have to be honest, im almost convinced i have LS. the first area of irritation is around my meatus, and ive seen certain pictures online of LS presenting this way. my GP has said she doesnt think its that, as did the dermatologist i saw on monday. the actual irritation looks to be coming from under the skin. the top layer of skin is almost exempt from any damage, apart from being dry. when moisturised, all you can see it some darkish irritation under the skins surface.. im certain that this originated by me rubbing my fingers across my meatus checking for discharge when i thought i had an STI. would you take a private message? i dont particularly want to put any pictures on this forum as of yet.
Wee_Dugie terry01090
Posted
Sorry don't do Private Messages - these Forums are about other readers learning from other people's experiences
I would say the best approach for you would be to work on an ongoing basis with the dermatologist - change does take months to bring about with these issues.
To confirm the presence of LS you would need a Biopsy
The only other specialist you could see is a Dermatologist that specialises in Genital Skin Disorders as they have the in-depth knowledge of dealing with these issues.
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Due to the number of Forum Posts I am currently trying to work through I am unable to help you further.
However, by all-means update your post here in 5 to 6 months to specify what has happened for you ....
terry01090 Wee_Dugie
Posted
that is fair enough, i'll continue to work with Dermatologists to try and find the best solution. ive searched online to find dermatologists that specialise in genital dermatology but ive yet to find any. does anyone on here know of any? im will to pay privately to see a specialist.
Wee_Dugie terry01090
Posted
So, you may need to use different search terms such as Genital Skin Conditions - Genital Skin Disorders, and suchlike - you may also need to broaden the town city or region that MAY form part of your search term - essentially, if you are using the name of a town, broaden to city, then region in which you live if this part of your search criteria.
In addition, Dermatologists belong to Professional Medical Bodies or Professional Associations - these have their own web sites and listings of members for each geographical location, the additional specialism they may hold, and the contact details for them .....
It is more common that such dermatologists, if they are hospital based, are working within a Gynaecology Department, but often they either take self-referrals from males, or will work with the Hospital's Dermatology Department to deal with specialist cases. Again, listings for both of these are often available online.
terry01090 Wee_Dugie
Edited
thank you.
Wee_Dugie terry01090
Posted
Once you have seen a specialist and you have tried the medication they have given you for around 8 to 12 weeks you can do an update to inform how you are getting on ....
terry01090 Wee_Dugie
Posted
i will do, thank you. i've just been moved onto a stronger steroid cream by my current dermatologist, its call Lotriderm. its the strongest steroid i have used to date so i'm hoping this will have a better effect. i've read that you say the ointment form of topical steroid is better? this would make sense to me as the inflammation i am dealing with seems to come from under the skin. if i moisturise the skin the top later doesnt have any visible lesions or anything like that, it virtually looks normal. you can just about see where the underlying inflammation is though in two seperate spots. obviously when i get an erection yon can clearly see where the irritation is. i'm hoping this cream will sort it out. if not ive managed to find a derm that specialising in male genital skin. hes only doing telephone appointments in this current climate but if the Lotriderm doesnt clear up my issue i'll be booking an appointment with him as soon as is possible.
Wee_Dugie terry01090
Posted
So yes, for penile skin conditions steroidal ointment is required - severe bacterial or fungal infections are best treat with cream versions as the issue exists at the surface level of the skin.
The effectiveness of a topical steroid is only as good as the manner in which it is applied: it needs to be sufficiently frequently applied, and the dermatologist should have directed you on this.
Then it must be absorbed by the skin so that the active ingredients in the ointment get to the lower level of the infected skin, this takes time rather than a swift application, I would work it into the skin for around 2 minutes at least.
In terms of the moisturiser I would avoid this as it may impact on the effectiveness of the steroid.
Can I just check, are you in the UK or elsewhere - just wondering about the availability of Genital Skin Disorder Dermatologist that deal with males ..... ?
terry01090 Wee_Dugie
Posted
ah okay, my derm has put me on a cream which is frustrating. even though the imflammation seems to be coming fron deeper within the skin rather than right on the surface. i'm kind of in a forced position to give it a month or two before consultants start doing face to face consultations again. i am in the UK yes, im in the south west. ive found a private dermatologist that specialises in genital skin conditions around and hour and a halfs drive from where i live. ive contacted him and hes said hes currently only able to offer telephone consultations. for £195, id rather wait to be seen face to face and obviously he'll get a far better and more accurate picture of what is going on, if i still have the issue. the Lotriderm cream has had a 10x better impact in two uses than the Trimovate did in 16 uses to be honest. hopefully with continued use it will clear my issue up. Can i ask, youve had LS for 9 years and manage it sufficiently.. if it turns out that is what i do have, can you get your penile head skin to be as it was before the issue started? i appreciate you have relapses where the condition flares etc but can you get the condition to a point where you barely notice it etc and sexual function isnt impacted?
Wee_Dugie terry01090
Posted
So yes, fully agree about your take on waiting and seeing the specialist in person.
So in terms of a condition like LS what you would need to learn about is how to keep the infected skin as healthy as possible.
So for you, for starters the Lotriderm would seem the best option prior to seeing the specialist - obviously, one word of caution would be that this is early for you to know even the short-term future impact of this. Is the Lotriderm a white cream or is it an opaque ointment?
Certainly with my LS I can actually prevent flares - to achieve this I use one of the most powerful steroidal ointments there is, for many people with LS and who understand at least a little of steroid strengths, they refuse to use anything like this in case of potential side-effects. But, the specialist would give you a professional insight on issues such as this against the benefits that are achieved. First and foremost, you would need a confirmed diagnosis of what you actually have.
And again, yes you can get back to something approaching full sexual function - with the proviso that, you must learn how to manage your condition to prevent flares and the potential of the skin breaking down.
So for you and any other readers of this, when you are using ANY topical steroid it MUST ONLY be applied to the infected / unhealthy skin - so for you accidentally getting the Lotriderm anywhere else on the shaft of your penis will cause the skin to thin and eventually break down. This is the most frequent issue I have to deal with.
Really this is part of the management regime, do not wait until you are just about to have sex or masturbate to apply the steroid - you need to plan ahead, apply the steroid in the morning if there is a chance of sex taking place that evening .....
terry01090 Wee_Dugie
Posted
thank you for the detailed response. the Lotriderm is a white cream, it is far more easily absorbed into the skin on the glans than the Trimovate, the trimovate was far clumpier in its texture and actually irritated the skin trying to rub it in. the dermatologist told me without any doubt in her mind that this isnt LS. My mind always goes to the worst possible outcome, which in the case of Penile head skin conditions is unfortunately LS. i do not have any white hardened plaques etc. You have made the possibility sound a lot less daunting. in your opinion is all chronic Balanitis caused by LS? or is LS something you acquire if the skin remains inflamed for too long? i am glad that you have managed to get to a point where you can prevent all flares though, encouraging.
Wee_Dugie terry01090
Posted
My understanding is that Balanitis is merely a term for reddened inflamed skin on the head and / or Foreskin of the penis. There may be other symptoms present at the same time.
The term is not very helpful as it gives no clue to both the cause and how to cure it - this is why it is often best to deal with a Dermatologist to resolve it.
So certainly, Balanitis that has been ongoing and has been in place for some time most often will have no connection with LS whatsoever - however, if inflammation has been in place for sometime it could combine with other factors to enable LS to take hold.
LS, as an autoimmune condition is linked to poor diet and the lack of a mixture of essential nutrients and vitamins, but also other conditions need to be present, such as poor genital hygiene, or trauma to skin in the area.
Interestingly, LS only can infect areas of skin where hair does not grow, so obviously on the head of the penis and foreskin, it infects somewhere between 6 and 9 times more females to males - in both sexes it can develop elsewhere on the body such as on the underarms and the lower breast area and the anus.
terry01090 Wee_Dugie
Posted
again, thank you for the detailed information. im sure myself and many other anxious readers that have had balanitis/penile head issues for longer than a few months will get some comfort reading it. im 4 days into treatment now with the Lotriderm cream. Its had a bigger impact than the Trimovate, definitely. i think because my issues seem more deeprooted than just the top layer of skin.. the inflammation may take a lot longer to resolve. my plan is to absolutely book in to see the doctor that specialises in male genital skin disorders as soon as is possible with COVID. if i can manage the redness up until then ill be happy enough i guess.
Wee_Dugie terry01090
Posted
Thank you for your comments. Please do update your Forum Post once you have seen the Male Genital specialist - if you have any other significant developments in the mean time then also update .....
Wee_Dugie terry01090
Posted
Thank you for your Personal Messages, I only respond to Forum Post's - if you want me to view photos for an opinion you can post them directly to this Forum Post ....
terry01090 Wee_Dugie
Posted
thank you. i will probably hold off on the photos for now. i have managed to book in an appointment with the top male Genital dermatologist in the UK. his name is Professor Bunker, unfortunately i wont be able to actually see him until hospitals etc re-open for standard outpatient appointments, but it is nice to have this in the pipeline. he has written two books on male genital skin conditions that top dermatology consultants actually work to. im hoping once ive seen him, he'll be able to tell me what i do or do not have and exactly how to get rid of/manage what ever i have effectively. up to now ive tried thrush cream, Betnovate RD ointment, Trimovate cream and Lotriderm cream. Lotriderm definitely yielded the best results initially, but has by no means cured my condition. i cant fault the dermatologist that prescribed me the Trimovate/Lotriderm creams.. she wasnt a specialist in male genital skin issues and therefore probably hasnt seen an extensive amount of them. hence the blanket diagnoses from her of Chronic Balanoposthisis. I truly believe that seeing a dermatologist that virtually only deals with male genital skin problems, i'll get the best result in terms of a diagnoses and treatment to either eradicate or sufficiently manage.
Wee_Dugie terry01090
Posted
Thanks for the update to your Forum Post - I am quite willing to discuss most things in Open Forum rather than private Messaging.
And yes, that was my finding regarding the one Dermatologist I saw - She did not have the detailed knowledge of genital disorders, and even seemed a little unsure about doing a penile biopsy.
Hope you get to see the Genital Specialist sooner rather than later, do make sure to update with the details once you do.
One tip, unless you have a very good memory for what is said to you take a little note book with you to write the main issues the Specialist says - particularly what has led to the condition, and of course, ALL the things you can do in future to resolve or at least manage what you have.
Should you have any issues before you get to see him by all means update here again .....
terry01090 Wee_Dugie
Posted
I appreciate that, no worries.
Yes agreed, she didnt really seem to have any idea of what has actually caused this and basically just said i seem to have very mild chronic inflammation that'll i'll need to manage. I hope so too. they have offered me telephone consultation where i'll get to send as many photographs to the professor before the call as i wish. i can also write to him to let him know all of my symptoms relating to each photo etc. he can then review everything and decide on a treatment pathway. what would be your thoughts on this? every time ive seen a GP or a dermatologist, the pictures that i have seem to be the most helpful thing anyway. whenever im examined im of course flaccid and therefore the inflammation is at its least visible. the pictures i have show the very worst of the inflammation when im erect and straight after ejaculation, and also pictures of my penis when you truly wouldnt think anything was wrong. i'm very tempted to take this offer, the only thing that is putting me off is the price. the fact that this professor has published books with hundreds of photos of different male genital skin conditions makes me very hopeful he'd be able to make an accurate diagnoses based on photographs and then a telephone consultation to discuss everything - the first thing i'd do is show him these photographs at a face to face consultation anyway. let me know your thoughts.
terry01090 Wee_Dugie
Posted
also, thanks for the tip Re the notepad. it can be very difficult to remember all the things said to you during a consultation definitely.
Wee_Dugie terry01090
Posted
In terms of this:
" they have offered me telephone consultation - what would be your thoughts on this? "
This is a good second best.
However, any doctors diagnostic method is based on the interaction between the medic and the person with the condition. A huge part of this is taking a medical history, how the condition developed and what you have done along the way to try and remedy this for yourself, or what other medical professionals have done for you.
A telephone conversation may not reveal everything that would have taken place face to face.
The essential element would be if a Biopsy would be required to give an accurate diagnosis - I would be asking if any particular arrangements could be put in place to enable this to happen.
Given the Virus situation, the professor can make the call on when he starts doing face-to-face consultations gain, with the consequent waiting list this would create.
Perhaps it may be an unknown when you would actually get to see him in-person anyway.
So you need a 'what if' in place to cover the Biopsy, what would be offered - I think I would be asking What If there was just no way round doing a face-to-face in the long-run, with the essential for you regarding this - what would the costs be for what is on offer now, would you need to pay a full-fee again for a in-person consultation. I would clarify this and the biopsy situation
terry01090 Wee_Dugie
Posted
thanks for the reply. So yes i take your point that the Professor may be able to take my history etc on board more effectively in a face to face consultation. what they have said i can do though, is send a detailed account of how this issue came about, all of my symptoms and all the medications etc ive tried across to him prior to the telephone consultation for him to review. they have said i can send as many photos as id like and also that i should date each photos so the professor can see how the condition has changed over the course of the 4 months ive had the irritation. like you said, it could literally be months until i get to see him face to face. it does note that if the professor thinks i need urgent treatment/biopsy then that can be arranged straight away. Of course like many others on these forums, every other healthcare professional ive seen thinks its a minor issue. i believe the a second consultation with the professor (hopefully face to face) would be charged as a follow up consultation and therefore at a lower price. I am waiting for my GP to send my referral letter over to them tomorrow so i can hopefully be booked in next week or the week after, i know the professor is only practising one day a week.
Steves8012 terry01090
Posted
Good luck. I think this is the best that can be hoped for in the short term, as you say may be months until anyone willing to see you face to face. This is the same chap i found when searching for a specialist but based in London. Keep us posted on how it goes as im also in the 'non-specific' camp making it hard to know which way yo go with things.
terry01090 Steves8012
Posted
did you see Dr Bunker? and if so what was his diagnoses/recommendations for you?
Steves8012 terry01090
Posted
Apologies, as in based in London so was too far
terry01090 Steves8012
Posted
ah fair enough. hes around 2 hours 30 minutes from me, if what he suggests fails from our first consultation i plan to travel to visit him face to face for our follow up if/when that is possible.
Wee_Dugie terry01090
Posted
Okay then. If you do an update once you have the contact with the professor ....
terry01090 Wee_Dugie
Posted
i will do. looks as though my appointment will be on tuesday of next week. Just a quick one.. in your experience what are LS lesions/plaques like? are they always white from scarring or can they be red? are they raised above the surface level of the skin? do they feel different to nearby healthy skin?
Wee_Dugie terry01090
Posted
So in terms of the LS:
are they always white from scarring or can they be red? - I would say the vast majority of plaques look white on a white skin background, red is possible, such as if the skin has been scratched at or irritated by something else
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are they raised above the surface level of the skin? - yes, they appear to 'sit on top' of the surrounding skin
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do they feel different to nearby healthy skin? - fundamentally yes, the skin is very unhealthy compared to nearby unaffected skin it feels completely different
terry01090 Wee_Dugie
Posted
thanks for the information, really helpful.
In terms of treating these LS lesions/plaques, does the Dermovate completely eradicate them to the point they cant be seen and the area just looks normal?
Wee_Dugie terry01090
Posted
First, LS is not something you eradicate - what the Dermovate (Clobetasol) does is keep the skin as heathy as possible - that means in practical terms that you do not see the plaques or the white appearance that the skin has when left untreated - and yes, that does mean the area looks normal
terry01090 Wee_Dugie
Edited
sounds like an incredibly powerful bit of topical medicine. appreciate your responses. I'll update this post when Professor Bunker has reviewed my condition next week and given me a diagnoses/treatment plan.
Wee_Dugie terry01090
Posted
Clobetasol is one of the most powerful topical steroid ointments there is - it is really important not to get it on completely healthy or uninfected skin as it can cause healthy skin to thin and break down.
Many people falsely believe it is doing this to their unhealthy skin and stop using it following bleeding episodes, for example.
Used correctly, there simply is no alternative for many severe skin conditions
Look forward to your update ......
terry01090 Wee_Dugie
Posted
So then guys, after sending 34 photos to Professor Bunker.. his diagnoses was that i have a very subtle case of LS. He said that he sees cases like mine all the time, where there is no white scarring etc but there is inflammation that will not go away. He is absolutely sure this is what i have got. He said to me he sees between 50-60 penises every week and he sees an awful lot of this. What he said is also very encouraging, 60-70% of men are cured with an ultra strong topical steroid, especially when the condition is only mild like mine is. He has told me to use Dermovate ointment for a month to "turn off the inflammation" after that it will be a case of ensuring absolutely no urine gets onto the penis head after urination and he has suggested different maintenance creams etc. He assured me that virtually all men go back to a completely normal sex life etc so i need not to worry about that. I think i always kind of new that the diagnoses of LS would come, he said a lot of men are shocked when they receive that diagnoses because of the pictures they've seen on the internet etc of the horrific white scarring. it was a very interesting conversation, from a man that is clearly one or the best in his profession on the planet. Lets hope that the Dermovate calms the redness down and i can continue on to lead a normal life.
Wee_Dugie terry01090
Posted
Okay, what I would suggest is - if you have not noted down ALL of the main points to do that now while they are fresh in the memory.
You may get a circumstance where something becomes particular as you move forward from where you are now, but, you lack the detail of what was said. So do that now.
The issue that stands out for me is highlighting that you need to take extreme care around urination - I have heard this before, and while I did not give it great credibility at the time, after reflection I realised my own LS was probably in the main connected to my previous very poor penile hygiene, both related to urine and also sexual fluids.
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Any readers of THIS Forum Post should note there is a thriving Lichen Sclerosus Forum on this website, and, as the vast majority of Lichen Based skin disorders are female, the majority of posts on the Forum are from Women.
For in-depth detail of the factors related to Lichen Sclerosus your attention is drawn to the following Forum Posts on elsewhere on THIS website:
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https://patient.info/forums/discuss/nutritional-support-protocol-for-autoimmune-diseases-636963
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https://patient.info/forums/discuss/pathway-into-and-out-of-autoimmune-diseases--661033
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Note the reply to an additional post by Starlight8 at this link:
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/lichen-is-taking-my-life-need-help-660159?page=0#3199398
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https://patient.info/forums/discuss/my-recent-help-with-using-vitamin-e-as-a-topical-708964
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and
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https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-vitamin-d-cascade-or-flow-of-the-cofactors-required-to-rebalance-our-bodies--707526
terry01090 Wee_Dugie
Posted
thanks Wee-Dug. The professors research is that the role of urine irritating the area is one of the biggest reasons for the development of male Lichen Sclerosus. i believe that i actually caused irritation myself by rubbing the area to check for discharge etc and then a number of factors combined for me to end up developing LS. The professor and a number of studies have said that circumcision is curative in between 75-90% of cases. Even where the LS is situated only on the glans. In Professor Bunkers letter to my GP, he has suggested that he thinks i have a around a 70% chance of avoiding the need for circumcision based on my symptoms. so im hoping that the Dermovate ointment continues to improve my condition. I literally just want to be able to have an erection without my penis head looking inflamed an irritated again and i'll be satisfied. i have no pain, no white plaques or spots. Just a visibly red penis head especially when erect. so frustrating.
Wee_Dugie terry01090
Posted
Thanks again for the further detail. Yes, I would concur, there need to be a collection, or at least several factors combining together to enable LS to develop. I would suspect that poor genital hygiene to be one of the core factors present in a large percentage of LS cases - although proving that in retrospect may be difficult.
The most critical factor for you in overcoming your symptoms is getting the use of clobetasol right - this is not always as straightforward as it may seem.
I strongly suspect many LS sufferers give up on topical steroid use because they have not got the application regime right, or do not give it sufficient time to be successful.
You may get immediate relief of symptoms, but achieving healthy skin again, or perhaps a better way of putting this would be, having skin that is healthy as possible can take an extended period of months to achieve.
Certainly for someone with typical LS symptoms of the white plaques, achieving both successful application of clobetasol and eventually successfully managed skin can take an extended period of months - and somewhere around 5 to 9 months would be my suggestion based on my own findings.
terry01090 Wee_Dugie
Posted
thanks Wee-Dug. I'm 5 days into my use of Clobetasol and i'm seeing minor improvement. My big issues is that if it doesnt work, the professor will recommend circumcision. To quote him on our telephone consultation "If you had a circumcision tomorrow you'd be cured, but 60-70% of men don't need one and they can get their symptoms under control with a potent topical steroid." I'm not sure of my thoughts on this. i have done extensive research and the vast majority of people that have LS confined to their glans and foreskin will be cured of LS. I struggled to fathom how this actually works, but apparently it is due to the fact that LS thrives in warm moist environments and a foreskin being present gives the disease that environment. Once removed, the glans skin can dry out and this in turn cures the LS. It's difficult to argue with the statistics. what i find strange is that the word 'cure' is used in a lot of the studies i have read up upon. The outlook for a male seems to be far better than the outlook for a female, it seems for a female it is more about symptom control. Wee-dug, did you never consider circumcision because you got your LS under control with Clobetasol? would you have if the Clobetasol failed to get your LS under control?
Wee_Dugie terry01090
Edited
My perspectives on clobetasol is that for the vast majority of users it would provide a means of successfully managing the condition.
For those that suggest that it did not work for them it is the application regime that is incorrect I would suggest. Either it is not being applied correctly or sufficiently frequently enough, or additional applications are also being used that reduce the effectiveness of the clobetasol.
My guide on the use would be, wash your penis after each time you urinate with water only and fully dry to remove any moisture. When applying the clobetasol rub well into the skin as this is the ONLY way the active ingredient(s) can have any beneficial impact.
The usual recommendation for using clobetasol would be twice daily for 2 weeks, then once daily for a further two weeks - after this recommendations can vary and some may suggest you can apply once every other day. The problem comes about when LS sufferers try to spread out the number of days when no application is made, some may describe a 'maintainance dose' of every fourth day or even once a week.
I would suggest within the first 6 to 9 months clobetasol should be applied at least every other day, certainly for those with the typical white plaques - otherwise the beneficial impact can be lowered too far.
The person who initially visually suspected LS for me was a retired GP who is part of a group of medical professionals (something like No-Circ) who promote the retention of the foreskin, and other online information I previously seen relating to Phimosis issues - so I am glad to have retained my foreskin.
So, as I say - my initial experiences of the clobetasol was not consistent in giving good results - I then discovered the many things that can get in the way of it providing beneficial impact, such as using soap, not fully drying the skin - or using other applications such as skin moisturiser, lubes and even Aloe Vera Gel.
This led my to my recommendation for ANY penile skin issue - keep it simple, water to wash, fully dry and nothing else - other than when you have a correct diagnosis and can use an appropriate steroidal ointment in an appropriate manner
terry01090 Wee_Dugie
Posted
again, thank you for the detailed information. In terms of the Clobetasol, i am ensuring it is rubbed fully into the skin. Professor Bunker has advised that i am to run it on the entire penis head and 3cm down the foreskin twice daily for one month. He expects this to put my LS into remission. If it doesnt, he will of course recommend circumcision. This is my 7th day using the Clobetasol and so far the improvements have been very small. But i guess with a disease like LS, it doesnt just go away overnight. You have to really work at it to force it into remission, or in Professor Bunker's words, to cure it. I will certainly try everything to keep hold of my foreskin but if it comes to it and i cant rid myself of LS with the steroid ointment, its certainly something i'll consider. In my opinion its extremely difficult to discredit somebodys lifetimes work that proves that circumcision is curative for this disease almost always, especially early into the disease. I'm happy for you that you have managed to retain your foreskin. This is the area that is the least affected for me. i do get occasional redness on it, but i wonder if that is because of all the creams etc ive used. certainly the main two LS points of inflammation visible all the time are around the Meatus and a patch further down the glans.
Wee_Dugie terry01090
Posted
The fundamental I would suggest is that if there has been something untoward with penile skin for some time, then no it certainly won't change overnight.
With perhaps an oversimplification being, the longer it has been in place the longer it will take to be healthy again.
And yes, certainly all the different creams you have tried will take some overcoming. I know on the several occasions I got my penile skin situation wrong it literally took months to turn this around. As I did not understand that I could have a severe penile skin problem I had tried all sorts of creams - but these were mainly ordinary skin creams I had tried.
I would say from initially being diagnosed, and having initially used a relatively mild steroid application before switching to clobetasol it certainly took the best part of at least 9 months to say I had achieved at least reasonably healthy skin that was not simply going to constantly flare up
Mentioning the Meatus, you MUST be really careful not to accidentally push any of the clobetasol inside as this itself can cause a major issue
My glans had the classic Lichen appearance, and once I used the Clob regularly this went away and did not return. My main site that I need to manage is where I separated my layers of foreskin from one-another when I was about 18YOA - I was completely unable to expose the glans.
At that time there was no internet to learn how other males had coped and overcome this situation so I set-about forcefully separating them, and bit by bit, probably over a period of 5 to 9 months I was increasing able to expose my glans completely.
So it is the trauma site that has the LS infection and this is where I have to manage with the Clob to prevent the flaring and the return of skin plaques
martin24428 terry01090
Posted
Hi iL tell u mate,iv had stinging,pain over a month,.uL be glad uv not got that,I'm struggling to function,getting worried,I'm circumscised,started with friction ,infection after sex,doc gave me fucidin H,which I'm not sure is good on forskin,anyway I have reddish small areas,small area now giving me on and off stinging,burning irritation,does anyone know genital dermatologist,near Manchester